How to sew a lazy daisy headband
Make a different kind of daisy chain with Mollie Johanson's gingham headband adorned with neat lazy daisy stitch rows.
Published:
You will need
- Gingham fabric: 18 x 18cm (7 x 7in)
- Linen fabric: 18 x 30cm (7 x 12in)
- Elastic: 14cm (5 ½in) x 2cm (¾in) wide
- Embroidery needle
- Stranded cotton in white and a coordinating colour
- Matching thread
- Basic sewing kit
- A template: download the Simply Sewing issue 58 templates for this template
Note
Use a 6mm (¼in) seam allowance unless otherwise stated.
Step 1
Come up through the fabric and go back down in the same location, leaving a loop on the surface of the fabric.
Step 2
Bring the needle up through the fabric a short distance from where the thread is coming through the fabric. Catch the loop of thread with your needle and then pull the thread to tighten the loop.
Step 3
Go back down through the fabric on the other side of the loop, tacking it in place.
Making the headband
Step 1
Sew the gingham fabric to the linen along the 18cm (7in) edge and press the seam open. Working with a larger piece makes it easier to place it in an embroidery hoop. Embroider the lazy daisy pattern on the linen so the pattern is close to the seam. Use three strands of stranded cotton throughout, alternating between white and a colour that matches your fabric.
Step 2
Trim the embroidered fabric and linen piece down to 6.5 x 42cm (25⁄8 x 16½in) then cut a matching piece from the same fabric. Place the elastic between the two headband pieces with right sides (RS) facing, and at the embroidered end. Pin and sew the layers, starting at the non-embroidered end. Backstitch at the beginning, over the elastic, and at the end.
Step 3
Trim the corners to reduce bulk and turn the headband RS out. Press the seams open, and press the opening seam allowance under. Insert the end of the elastic into the opening by about 1cm (3⁄8in). Topstitch across the end, backstitching the elastic to secure.
Our lazy daisy stitch flowers have four petals each, but you could add more petals for extra detail, or stitch the petals in different lengths.
Looking to learn other embroidery stitches? Click to discover our How to do Stem stitch guide.
Authors
Mollie is the author of Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big & Small. She lives near Chicago and is happiest with a cup of coffee and some stitching. She specializes in designing exceedingly cute, contemporary embroidery and cross stitch projects with a kawaii influence. Her work has been featured on The Spruce Crafts and in books and magazines including Simply Sewing Magazine, Cross Stitch Crazy and Mollie Makes. She co-hosts the Very Serious Crafts Podcast with Haley Pierson-Cox and Heidi Gustad. Find her on Instagram @molliejohanson
